Legislative Update – Week Ending 4-6-2024

TSEA April 6, 2024 Comments Off on Legislative Update – Week Ending 4-6-2024
Legislative Update – Week Ending 4-6-2024
As another week closes on the hill, regular standing committees are continuing to close down while final budget negotiations are concluding. We are expecting session to end in the next two weeks. TSEA is continuing to watch and be involved in the process to make sure the 3 percent pool of money for state and higher ed employees remains safe while also seeking opportunities to continue the enhanced 401(k) match. TSEA will continue to diligently track legislative developments that impact your interests and keep you informed until adjournment.
Bills we’re monitoring:

(NOTE: We may add additional bills to this list as legislative session progresses)

SB1545/HB1554 Rose, Slater

Senate: Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 1

House: Did not reach the number of votes needed to pass on the house floor.

Salaries and Benefits – As introduced, establishes a program under which a state employee may receive up to six weeks of paid leave if the employee becomes a foster parent of a minor child. – Amends TCA Title 3; Title 8; Title 16 and Title 50. —

SB1941/HB2143 Haile, Martin, G –

Signed by Governor Lee

State Employees – As introduced, permits employees of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government to complete Tennessee foster parent training and in-service training during the course of their employment without having to use paid sick, annual, or compensatory time up to a certain amount of time. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 37 and Title 71. —

SB2007/HB1960 Campbell, Powell

Senate: Calendar Committee

House: State Government Committee (committee closed)

Hospitals and Health Care Facilities – As introduced, authorizes public hospitals, upon approval of the hospital’s governing body, to establish a state employee and retiree healthcare incentive program that will allow for the waiver of applicable out-of-pocket expenses associated with medical care at the public hospital for state employees and retirees and their covered dependents participating in the state group insurance plan. – Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27. —

SB2081/HB2088 Johnson, Lamberth

Senate: Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

House: Placed on calendar Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/9/2024

Military – As introduced, authorizes the military department to administer a critical skills retention bonus program to be used to award retention bonuses of up to $10,000 to enlisted service members in the Tennessee National Guard; entitles certain state employees who are members of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the national guard to special leave with partial pay during a period in which the members have been called to active duty. – Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 1, Part 1. —

SB1840/HB1815 – Bill failed in committee

Senate: Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

House: Failed in s/c Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee of Civil Justice Committee 3/12/24

Foster Care – As introduced, establishes a pilot program for five years to allow private entities to provide foster care services to qualifying children; requires the department of children’s services to create a process for selecting children for the program; directs the pilot program to submit monthly reports to the state foster care review board; requires the comptroller to audit the program. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 36 and Title 37.